Universal joint.



A. H. FETZ'ER.

UNIVERSAL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3, 1910.

1,021,923. Patented Apr. 2, 1912 2 SHEETPr'SHEET 1.

1 v T g .H

W IYIVESSES O Attorney A. H. FETZER.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1910.

1,021,923. Patented Apr. 1912.

2 SHBETSSHEBT 2.

PV/YLVEALS'ES [/VVE/VTOR Afzomeys y W j BY W 7 W-Jfi' v larly UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN H. FETZER, OF'GALTON, OHIO.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2, 1912.

Application filed June 3, 1910. Serial No. 564,764.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALLEN H. FETZER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galion,-.in the county of Crawford and State I of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Universal Joints; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact'description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in universal oints and my ob ect is; toprovidea sectional housing for one portaon'of a shaft and a ball for the opv ,iposite portion of the shaft.

A further object is to provide means for locking the sections of the housing together,

A further object is to provide means for causing the ball and socket members to ro-' tate in unison. and at the same time permit of pivotal action between the ball and socket.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particupointed out in the specification and claim.

In the accompanying drawings which are made a part ofthis application, Figure 1 is,

a side elevation. of the ball and socket in their assembled positions." Fig. 2 is a longitudinal centralsectional view therethrough. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view as seen. on line 3 '-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of one portionof the housing andvshaft. Fig. 5 isa-n end elevation thereof. Fig. 6

v is an elevation of' a pin jo u rnalemployed in connection with the bearing. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation of a cone. bearing cooperatingwith said pin.

8 is an end elevation thereof.

Referring to the drawings in which simi- .lar: reference numerals designate correspending parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a sleeve, to'one end-of which is attached a socket section 2, cooperating with which is an auxiliary socket section 3,. said 'sections when secured together forming a'perfect socket member.

The axial center 'ofthe auxiliary section 3 is provided with a flared opening 4, through which extends the restricted portion 5 of ;a s haft or axle section 6, the end of the axle sect-ion terminating in a ball 7,

which fits .the socket formed by the two sections.

Formed on the interior :walls of the socket sections 2 and 3 and extending only partially through them are grooves 8, which are preferably elongated with curved ends and preferably seven in number, although a greater or less number may be used, if

desired, and one half of each groove is bearings, said side walls are tapered similar to the taper of the sleeves.

The inner ends of the pins 9 are loosely but snugly set in pockets 9*, so that they can be readily removed from the ball and new ones introduced in their place, when desired.

. After the ball has been entered in theauxiliary socket section 3, saidauxiliary socket section is placed in registration with the'other socket section and secured there- 'to by means of a band 11, which is in- .teriorly threaded and engages threads on. .the exterior of the meeting edges of the socket sections,

The two sections of the socket member are; keptin proper alinement with each other" and held against independent rotation by providing the meeting face of one of the sections with lugs 12, which enter recesse's 13 in the opposite socket section and when the lugs are seated within the recesses, it will be readily seen that the sections will be securely held against independent rotation. 4

\ By providing the pins and cone shaped sleeves and engaging the same with the grooves, as shown, it will be readily seen that both sections of the shaftor axle will be; caused to rotate together, while one of the sections'may' be swung at various angles to the opposite section, thus particularly adapting the joint for use in connection with .the forward-- axle .of-a, motor propelled vehicle and by this construction, it will be readily seen that the forward axle may be driven, while the parts of the axle carrying the wheels may be swung in the arc of a circle to guide the vehicle.

What I claim is A universal joint comprising a solid ball member provided with a series of spaced radial pockets arranged transversely around the ball and extending only a short distance therein, a socket member adapted to fit around the ball and comprising two sections, said sections being provided upon their inner walls with a series of elongated grooves, said grooves having curved ends and extending only partially through said walls, said grooves also being arranged in position to register with the pockets of the ball when said ball and socket members are assembled, lugs carried by the meeting into the grooves of said socket member, cone shaped sleeves fitted on said pins and located in said grooves, said sleeves being adapted to move longitudinally of said grooves, and means for securing said sections together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLEN H. FETZER.

Witnesses:

JOSEPHINE FETZER, GRACE FETZER. 

